Cosatu promises order
Busa and BLSA rally behind planned strike
In an unprecedented move, business organisations have thrown their weight behind Cosatu’s national protest against corruption and state capture.
The federation of trade unions plans to lead about 100 000 of its members to the streets in the major cities tomorrow, in a call for an end to corrupt activities, which have drained the fiscus.
Business Unity SA (Busa) and Business Leadership SA (BLSA) say they support the marches.
However, the planned marches have been criticised by former Cosatu affiliates, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA and the Food and Allied Workers Union.
The two unions described the protest as a “desperate attempt” by Cosatu “to remain relevant”. They said Cosatu was part of the “very machinery” against which it planned to protest by being in partnership with the ANC.
Cosatu has been granted a section 77 certificate by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) to protect workers who take part in the protest.
While ordinarily business would be against any action that threatened productivity, BLSA CEO Bonang Mohale said the country found itself in “extraordinary times”, which called for “unusual bedfellows”.
“In these extraordinary times, in which our constitution is under threat in our young nation, BLSA felt it necessary to throw its weight behind labour’s call against state capture, specifically against the Gupta and [President Jacob] Zuma families,” Mohale said.
Cosatu said it was embarking on the protest as state capture and corruption had a negative effect on job creation at a time when the unemployment rate was over 27%.
While workers were expected to abide by the Labour Relations Act when exercising their right to protest, Busa was in support of some of the issues referred to Nedlac by Cosatu in its application for a certificate, Busa CEO Tanya Cohen said.
“We certainly support the call for a commission of inquiry into state capture.”
Meanwhile, Cosatu promised a peaceful demonstration on the day.
“Though this is a national strike‚ we are not anarchic. We will not be disturbing any services. We are aware that we have the potential to shut down schools‚ transport services and so forth, but we won’t do that,” said Sizwe Pamla‚ Cosatu national spokesman.
“People will be able to go to work and continue with their lives without any interruption.”